Clutch



'. n. LAKE.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED .iUNE 30,1919.

Reissud Aug. 1 7, 1920,

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

D. LAKE.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30. I919.

Reissued Aug. 17 1920.

D. LAKE.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE 30. I919.

Reissued Aug. 17, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID LAKE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE L. & H. CLUTCH (30., OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CLUTCH.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent. Reissued Aug, 1'7, 192() Original No. 1,234,776, dated July 31, 1917, Serial No. 103,912, filed June 15, 1916. Application for reissue liled June 30, 1919. Serial No. 397,827.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DAVID LAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland,

in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in fluid clutches in which the move transmission.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide means for compacting the fluid plastic mass carried by the driving element by the action of centrifugal force, and to provide means carried by the driven element to penetrate the mass at different depths, so as to regulate the speed of the driven element and when the means are fully projected they will enter the dense mass of material and the speed ofthe driven element will be coincident with that of the driving element.

My invention relates further to certain'details of improvements in the mechanism for carrying out my invention and to the particular compound forming the plastic mass.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a transverse sectional view of my improved clutch, the section being taken on the line (Z'a, Fig. 2;

Fig. 1

Fig. 1;

Fig.1 4, is a sectional view on the line d-d, Fig. 3, illustrating the projections on the casing and the plunger in dotted lines;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7, are perspective views of details of the invention;

Fig, 8, is a view illustrating my invention designed for a more powerful clutch than Fig. 2, is a sectional view on the line b b,

*ig. 3, is a sectional view on the line c--c,

though it may be any shaft to which power is applied. 2 is the driving element which is secured to the shaft, as shown in Fig. 1. In the inner periphery of the driving element is an annular recess '3 formed partly by the driving element and partly by a ring 4 secured thereto by bolts 5, the said annular recess being partly filled with a plastic mass 3" hereinafter described. The joints be-' tween the two parts 2 and 4 are preferably machined to fit so as to prevent leakage of the fluid element, which, when the driving element is turned at a high speed, will be forced out toward the periphery of the driving element by centrifugal force, and, if the joints are not tight, leakage will occur.

some instances the ring imay be made integral with the driving element so as to form the recess 3 without Fig. 11.

6 is the driven element having a deep flange 7 which forms the bearing for the plungers 8, which can be projected into the joints, as illustrated in space occupied by the fluid element to any degree desired. In the present instance, the flange is grooved at 9 and 10 to receive the annular ribs 11 and 12, respectively, on the driving element 2 and the ring 4, so that while one part is free to turn independently of the other they are held centralby these two ribs. There are six plungers, in the present instance, and they are preferably staggered, as shown in Fig. 1, three being out p of line with the otherthree which are alter- I nate'ly arranged so as to prevent a channel being out in the plasticfluid element. I

' The plastic fluid element 3 is placed in the annular recess 3 and is a comparatively thick dense 'mass consisting, in the present instance, of graphite, glycerin and asbestos ment with respect to the other, but when. a

driven element is partly projected into the mass/it will allow the element to move therethrough, and thus transmit motion according to the depth of penetration.

Mechanism is provided for projecting or withdrawing the plungers, preferably in unison, to any distance required so as to regu- This mass is of such a consistlate the speed of'the driven element. When the plungers are entirely withdrawn the driving element turns without imparting motion to the driven element and when the plungers are projected to the full extent then both elements turn as a unit.

Projecting from the side walls of the annular recess 3 are abutments 13, one series being on the driving element and the other on the ring 4 and, in the present instance, there are six of these abutments on each side. Alternating .with these side abutments is a series of transverse abutments 14 at the base of the annular recess in the driving element. These abutments retain the plastic fluid element so that it will turn with the driving element while the plungers 8 are engaged by the plastic fluid element and turn the driven element.

Any suitable means may be provided for moving the plungers into and out of the recess for the fluid element. In the present instance, I have shown a bell crank lever 15 pivoted at 16 to lugs on the driven element and one arm of this bell crank lever is slotted to engage a pin 17 on the plunger, while the other arm has a pin 18 which enters a notch in the shifting sleeve 19. This shift- I keys 29 which are adapted to slots 30.

the flange 19 of the shifting sleeve 19, and these key blocks are secured to thexdrive'n ing sleeve fits the hub 20 of the driven element and this hub, in turn, fits over the a threaded ring 21 secured to the threaded end of the shaft 1.

22 is a coupling screwed into the hub 20 of the driven element and is squared in the present instance to receive the squared end 23 of the driven shaft 24. This shaft 1s mounted in a bearing 25, in the present instance, on which is secured a conical friction ring 26 with which the friction pads 27 on the shifting sleeve 19 come in contact when the sleeve is withdrawn to the full extent so as to form a brake for the driven element after the plungers have been withdrawn. This-construction may be modified without departing from the essential features of the invention.

In order to preventlateral strains being placed upon the bell crank lever 15, I proide key blocks28 which are shown clearly in Fig. 7, and these key'blo'cks' are. secured to the driven element 6 and have elongated element by pins 31 and a screw 32. The head of the screw overlaps the pins, as

' clearly shown in Fig. 2, so as to hold them in position. This construction materially strengthens the connection between the key block and the driven element.

In Fig. 8., I have, illustrated a type of clutch especially adapted for heavy loads. In this clutch, the plungers 8 are duplicated, are arranged side by side and are spaced :1. sufficient distance apart to allow for the insertion of a series of blades 33, which project from the casing of. the driving element 2 and, in the present instance, there are six of these blades, three being inclined in one direction and the other three being inclined in the opposite direction, displacing the plastic fluid element and forcing it into the path of the plungers 8. Each set of plungers is connected by a cross head 34 and this cross head, in turn, is attached to a bell crank lever 15*.

In Figs. 9 and 10, I have shown another 1 modification of the invention, in which the plungers 8 are arranged parallel with the shaft 1 and the driven element 6 forms one wall of the recess for the plastic fluid element. The plungers, in this instance, are

they do not project into the space contain-' ing the transmitting plastic fluid material and if the driving element is rotating and it is desired to impart movement to the dr ven element the plungers are gradually projected into the space containing the transmitting plastic fluid material and, as they are projected, the driven element rotates slowly at first and the speed increases 1n proportionto the projection of the plungers into the material. These plungers dlsplace the material, owing to the fact that there I is a space not only between the ends of the plungers and the casing, but "also between the sides of the casing and the plungers, 1n the present instance, and as the outward movement ofthe plungers is continued the resistance of the material is increased, as the material becomes denser as it nears the eriphery, owing to centrifugal action.

hen the plungers are projected to then full extent they are in the dense material which holds the plungers, and thefldriven rotate atthe same speed as the driving element. The plungersin their projectedposition do not touch the casing, but motlon 1s transmitted entirely through the dense mass of plastic material. Tests have shown that there is no slip between the driving and thedriven elements when the plungers are fully projected into the dense mass of mater1al under normal driving strains. This is due to the fact that the driving element is rotated at a speed sufficient to cause theplastic fluid mass to pack against the inner periph- -eie1nent to which they are connected will cry of the casing and is caused to turn with the casing by the projecting abutments and when the plungers are forced into the dense portion of the mass the plungers and the a construction in which siX- plungers are used,- and in, Fig.' 10, I have shown ten plungers. It will be understood that the number of plungers may be varied without departing from the essential features of the invention. I have found that aclutch havpose desired.

The particular plastic composition described herein forms the subject of a separate application filed by me on the 11th day of December 1916, Serial No. 136,234.

' I claim 1. The combination of a rotatable driving element having a recess therein; a plastic fluid mass contained in said recess and forming a power transmitting elementga rotatable driven element having means adapted to be projected into the plastic fluid mass so that motion of the driving element will be imparted to the driven element through said mass. i

2. The combination of a rotatable'driving element having a recess therein; a plastic fluid mass contained in said recess and forming a power transmitting element; a driven element having plungers adapted to be projected radially into the plastic fluid mass so that motion of the driving element will be imparted to the driven element through said mass according to the depth of penetration of the plungers into the mass.

3. The combination of a rotatable element having a recess therein; abutments in. the

ing three plungers will accomplish the purrecess; a shaft to which the said rotatable element is attached; a plastic fluid mass in the recess; a flanged element forming the inner wall of therecess and having movable plungers adapted to penetrate the mass of material in the first named element, one of said elements being a driven element and the other a driving element.

' 4. The combination of a driving shaft; a

' casing secured to the shaftv and having an annular recess therein and having abutments pro ecting into the recess; a plastic fluid fibrous element having graphite as its base parts having an annular recess for the fluid disposed in said recess; a driven shaft; a flanged element connected to said shaft and having'a series of radlal plungers arranged to be projected into the space occupied byv the said fluid element; and means for projecting said plungers.

5. The combinatlon m-a fluid clutch, of a driving and a'dI'IVBII element, one of said element; a series of plungers on the other part, said plungers being less in'diameter than the width of the'recess for the fluid element; and means for moving the plun gers so that they will be projected more or less into the recess for the fluid element, said means retaining the plungers in the position intowhich they are projected.

6. The combination in a fluid clutch, of a driving element and a driven element, one

of said parts having a recess for the fluid element and having an abutment at the side and also having transverse abutments alternating with the side abutments; a series of cylindricalplungers carried by the other.

element, said plungers being less in diameter than the width of the recess for the fluid 7. The combination of a driving element having a hub and a rim; a ring detachably secured to the rim of the driving element and forming with the saidelement, an annular recess for the fluid element; a driven element extending into the driving element and having a portion forming the inner wall of the recess and engaging with the rim and ring of the driving element a series ofplungers extending radially through the inner wall of the recess formed by the driven element and carried by the said driven element, said plungers being less in diameter than the width of the said recess; and means for regulating the projection of the said plungers.

8. The combination in a fluid clutch, of a driving and a driven element, one of said parts having'a cdncentric recess for the fluid element; a series of cylindrical plungers carried by the other element and arranged to be projected through the wall of the re cess for the fluid element, said plungers being less in diameter than the width of the space for the said fluid element; and means for positively projecting the plungers and for holding the said plungers in the proj ected position.

9. The combination of a driving element having a recess for the fluid element; a

driven element; a series of plungers carried by the driven element and'projecting into 10. In a power transmitting apparatus, the combination of a rotatable driving element having a recess for a fluid element; a plastic fluid element in said recess; a rotatable driven element; and a series of plungers carried by the driven element and projectable into the recess of the driving element to engage the plastic fluid, the said plungers being arranged in staggered relation.

11. The combination in a fluid clutch, of a driving element having a recess near its periphery for the fluid element; a series of radially arranged plungers carried by the driven element and arranged to be projected into the recess for the fluid element, some of said plungers being out of line with the others; abutments on the driving element extending into the recess for the fluid element; and means for operating the plungers to control the speed of the driven element.

12. The combination in a fluid clutch, of a driving shaft; a driving element secured thereto and having a hub and a rim; a ring secured to the rim and forming with the driven element a recess for the fluid element, said parts having abutments projecting into the recess ;a driven element having plungers arranged to extend into the recess; and means for actuating the plungers; the driven element having two annular grooves and the driving element and ring each having an annular rib extending into one of the grooves of the driven element.

13. The combination in a clutch, of a driving and a driven element; a plastic fluid mass forming a power transmitting element carried by the driving element; and plungers carried by the driven element and arranged to be projected into the plastic fluid mass through which the power is transmitted.

14:. The oombination'of a rotatable driving element having a recess therein; a plas tic fluid mass contained in said recess and forming a power transmitting element; a

' driven element having plungers adapted to be projected outwardly relative to the clutch axis into the plastic fluid mass so that Ino-' tion of the driving element will be imparted to the driven element through said mass according to the depth of penetration of the plungers into the mass.'

15. The combination of a driving shaft; a casing secured to the shaft and having an inwardly opening annular recess therein and having abutments projecting into the recess; a plastic fluid fibrous element having graphite as its base disposed in said recess; a driven shaft; a flanged element connected to said shaft; a series of plungers carried by the flanged element and arranged to be projected into the space occupied by the said fluid element; and means for projecting said plungers.

16L The combination in a fluid clutch, of

a driving and a driven element, one of said parts having an annular recess for the fluid element; a series of plungers on the other part, said plungers being less in diameter than the width of the recess for the fluid element; a compactible viscous fluid in the said recess; and means for moving the plungers so that they will be projected more or less into the recess for the fluid element, said means retaining the plungers in the position into which they are projected.

17. The combination in a fluid clutch, of a driving element and a driven element, one of said elements having a-recess for the fluid element and having an abutment at the side and also having transverse abutments alternating with the side abutments; a series of plungers carried by the other element, said plungers being less in diameter than the width of the recess for the fluid element; a coinpactible viscous fluid in the said recess; and means for projecting the plungers into the recess and for holding them in the projected position.

18. The combination of a driving element having a hub and a rim; a ring detachably secured to the rim of the driving element and forming with the said element, an inwardly opening annular recess for the fluid element; a driven elementextending into the driving element and having a portion engaging with the ring and the drivlng element and forming a wall to close the inner side of the said recess; a compactible viscous fluid in said recess; a series of plungers carried by the driven element and projectable through the said wall into the recess, the said plungers being less in width than the width of the recess; and means for regulating the projection of the said plungers.

19. The combination in a fluid clutch, of a driving and a driven element, one of sa d parts having a concentric recess for the fluid element; a series of plungers carried by the other element and arranged to be projected through the wall of the recess for the fluid element, said plungers being less in Width than the width of the space for the saidfluid element; a plastic fluid mass in the recess; and means for positively projecting the plungers and for holding the said plungers in the projected position.

20. The combinationin a fluid clutch of a rotatable driving element having a recess near its periphery for the fluid element; a fluid mass in said recess; a rotatable driven element; a series of plungers carried by the driven element and arranged to be profor the fluid element; and means for operating theplungers to control the speed of the driven element.

21. In a power transmitting apparatus, the combination of rotatable driving and driven parts formed and arranged to provide an interposed annular chamber; a

viscous transmission medium in said cham-' ber rotatable with one part and capable of being compacted under the action of cen-- trifugal force incident to the rotation of the said driving part; members movably mounted on the other of said parts and adapted to be adjusted relative to the axis of rotation outward and inward in the viscous material; and means for so adjustthe combination of a rotatable driving member; a rotatable driven member; a compressible viscous fluid transmission medium interposed between the driving and driven members; projections carried by said members to engage the transmission medium and displace it by relative angular movement of the members; and means for applyingvary- 23. In a power transmitting apparatus,=

ing degrees of pressure to the transmission medium to vary the speed of the driven member in relation to the speed of the driving member.

24. In a power transmitting apparatus, the combination of a rotatable driving member; a rotatable driven member; a plastic fluid transmission medium interposed between the driving and driven members; and

projections.carried by said members to engage the transmission medium, said project Jars belng arranged in staggered relation whereby certain of said projections are caused to displace transmission mediuminto the path of rotation of other projections when relative angular movement of the driving and driven members occurs.

25. 1na power transmitting apparatus, the combination of a rotatable driving member; a rotatable driven member; a highly viscous fluid transmission medium interposed between the driving and driven members; and projections carried by said members to engage the transmission medium, said projections being arranged in staggered relation whereby each of said projections is caused to displace transmisslon medium into the path of rotation of the next succeeding projection when relative angular movement of the drlvmg and driven mem-.

bers occurs.

DAVID LAKE. 

